Method and apparatus for salvaging pipe lines



Aug. 12v, i947. A M. HtLL Erm.

ITHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SALVAGING PIPE LINES Filed p1-r11 so, y1943 2 'sheets-sheet 1` f lllllll Aug. 12, 1947. A M. HILL ETAL l 2,425,373

lmao Ann APPARATUS Fon sALvAGIuG P IPE unas Filed April 30. 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT orpllglggN i aiutavaV METHODND APPIEATUS FOR SALVAGING maar M. mu. Emma 1.1mm, and Eugene G. Baker, 'ruua, om.. mignon to i stanound Pipe Line Company, Tulsa, Okla., a corporation Maine LINES` Application April 30, 1943, Serial No. 485,260

Our invention relates to an improvement in devices for salvaging pipe and more particularly pertains to apparatus of the type wherein sections of the pipe are fed longitudinally through the apparatus. More specifically our linvention re- 11 Claims." (Cl. 134-8) lates to a method and apparatus for mechanically swabbing and externally cleaning a pipe.

It is anv'object of the invention to provide method and means for mechanically swabbing sections of salvaged pipe. It is a further object cleaning apparatus of this type wherein the swab is stationary and means are associated therewith for moving the ipipe longitudinally thereover. A further object is to provides. means for continuously swabbing a plurality of separate pipe sections. Another object is to provide means for the removal of the swabbed accumulationsl after swabbing each pipe. These and other objects of 1 our invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

The invention resides particularly in the conf struction and arrangement of the mechanical elements making up the apparatus whereby pipe is salvaged by cleaning the exterior andswabbing the interior in one operation. We will describe our invention more or less in detail by reference 'to the drawings wherein: i

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of our pipe swabbing assembly; y

Figure 2 is a top plan view of our improved swabbing device;

Figure 3 is an'elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 2; y f

Figure 4 is a view diagrammatically illustrating details of the swab; Y

Figure 5 is an elevation partly in section illus- I to provide a swabbing device in connection with a trating one embodiment of the mechanism for moving the -pipe of! the swab;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the mechanism` in Figure 5 illustrating one means of adjusting the compression roller; Y

Figures 7 and 8 are elevations of a secondary swab stem holder; and

Figures 9 and 10 are' elevations'oi'the primary swab stem holder.

The embodiment of oury invention illustrated in swab stem IT and the secondary swab stem I1a vare linked 'or coupled together and are secured either by primary holder I2 or secondary holder I9. When the lholder I! is applied the primary vswab stem I1 is backed away so that end hook Ila can be lifted off anchor bar I4.` Thus in starting a section of pipe through the apparatus, the secondary swab stem I'Ia is secured by holder I9, the primary swab stem II is released from the holder I2 and the pipe is passed longitudinally over the primary swab stem I1. The swab stem Il is then i'esecuredA by fastening the hook Ila overthe bar I4 of holder I2 and holder I9fis released.` i The details of the secondary swab stem'vholder I4 are shown in Figures 'I and 8. The supports 20 are rigidly fastened to the frame members I I and I l rotatably support between them a shaft `2,I in

f holes 22 provided in the supportingplatesfn for that purpose. A plurality of holes 22 'are' provided to permit adjustment o! theiheight' of the holder so as to accommodate different sizes of pipe. A forged steel hook I8 is linked to hook arm 22 ilxed to the center of shaft 2I andan operating levei` 24 engages the shaft 2I near one end. Suitable stop numbers 2l and!! areprovvided to limit the throw of the lever 24. These stop members likewise are adiustably fastened to plate 20 bymeans of selected pairs of y holes 21.

' The secondary swab stem holderI I8 is released by operating the lever 24 to lift thehook Il from the eye 28 in the secondary swab stem Ila. lWhen the hook I8 is in this raised position; the .pipe is free to roll along rollers I l on to the secondary swab stem |1a which carries the swab I0. During thisoperation the swab stem I1 is securedzby the primary swab stem holder I2.- After the pipe has completely passed the secondary holder Ill the secondary swab stem Ila can again be secured by hook i4 and eye 2l and theprimary'holder I2 is released to permit another pipe section's passing longitudinally over the leading yend of swab stem I1 and the procedure related above repeated.

The pipe which is longitudinally disposedabout the swab stem I'la passes lthroughthe external cleaning zone and over the swab III. The drive provided by the external cleaning machine, such as by traction means associated therewith or by fthe action of the cleaning brushes themselves continues to force the pipe over the swab and on to the tractor mechanism II diagrammatically represented in Figure 1. 'I'he drive provided prior `to the` swab is diagrammatically illustratedfby element I8 in Figure l. Thus, for example, simultaneously a cleaned and swabbed portion oi the pipe will be entering. mechanism 3|, another portion vbeing swabbed, and another portion being cleaned externally.

with slots I6 tofpermit the upward and downward adjustmentof the bar I4. f Normally the primary` f1 Details of the tractor mechanism 3i yfor drawing the cleaned and swabbed pipe from the appa-'M 3 ratus and ontothe conveyorrollers I are shown in Figures r`5.and 6i Mechanism=3l includes side members 35 which are xed to the conveyor frame H, for example, as by means of bolts3 4. Bearings 3 'l`are mounted withinbeari-ng holders having tractor wheels 39. One endof the shaft 38 is provided with a sprocket 40 held inplace by key 4|. y ple, by chain 42 in a manner described in conne'e.- tion with Figures 2 and 3. An adjustable idling ferentz diameter.- .A spacer'bar 65 is threaded. This sprocket is driven as, for examcompression roller 43 is mounted to cooperate with tractor Wheels 39. This compressionroller 63 carrying spring-loaded scraper 'knives 64. The spring loading of the scraper knives can be adjusted by suitable set screws. The sleeves 163. are free to rotate about the rod 62 and are re- 36 and support between them 'driven shaft. 3611 1 fplaceablev by other sleeves having larger or smaller scraper knives 'when cleaning pipe of difto the'. end `of `shaft 62 and canl be provided with suitable meansfsuch as a cotter pin forsecurlng the partsl in'their threaded positions. The swabbing element 3U comprises the scraper knives 64 4 which loosen the material and a resilient plate 43 is supported by arms 44 rigidly xedto the.,

shaft 45 extending between the side members "35.

45 in such a manner that the. supporting varms 44, the shaft 4 5-and thespring-arms 46 compriser y, a modiiied `bell crank. A pair of tension springs 41 are adjustably secured between the. ends of the. spring arms 46 Vand a..conveyor` brace48-by adjusting the bolts I9.. Adjustable `stop members .comprising bolts 50 are. carried bythe side members 35 fonthe purpose of vlimiting thedownward movement of the compression roller` 43,1 as ion example, `when the pipe is o ut ofthe path of movement of the roller. The-idling compression roller assembly just described is adjustably lmounted on thefside members'35 to provide for i the passageof pipes-of different diameter. Spaced holes 52 v are provided .for this purpose. It will be apparent that bolts 4 9 and 5 0. also can be adjusted to ycompensate .for the higher or lower 1 mounting ofthecompresslon roller assembly on N orrnally the tractor wheels 39 and compression roller 43 will idle. Alternatively the tractor wheels'39 .will be driven throughshaft 38 and sprocket40 at a speed necessary to move the pipe lthereomrat rthe same rate as itis .passing through the external cleaning zone. It isdesirable, however, thatwhentne section ef pipe has ieft the external cleaningmz'one .and is about .to be vwithdrawn from the swab 30 that the pipe travel faster than it did previously thereby yleaving agap between its trailingend and the leadingl end of the following pipe. This gap permits the removalof theY swabbed accumulationsfrom the swab 30.

This increase'in "speed is accomplishedr by pro- .viding a'clutch assembly 53 and the associated vsprockets'and chains.

A single prime mover diagrammatically illustretenl by in Figs. 1, zand s eeesuppiy the drive forboth thetractionmeans diagrammat- `ically illustrated at 'i6 iin Figure '1 and for the tractor mechanism 34 and 'can be appliedatany suitable point. Thus the,V` driveV transmitted through cluthassemblyi53, sprocket 54;v chain 42 and sprocket 40 to tractor rolls 39can be appliedto the clutch assembly -53 by sprocket 55,

Sprocket ratios can be *Varied asis well known l in the art-to attain the-'desired rete of'pi'pe removal. .Thecperatorby meansof clutch'lever 53a-can controlthe speed of the tractor wheels 39 `withthe-"result vthat'the vcleaned pipe is withthe conveyoron'to the pipe rack. e*

' 4Referring to thedetails of the swab 30 shownv in Figure 4 the swab stem lla is provided with a threaded portion 60 for engaging .the swab. .Il tapered sleeve 6| is welded to. oneend o!V a rod 1 Spring arms 46.are rigidly attached to the shaft ordis'c' of a self-sustaining but exible material which iits the pipe tightly and scrapes the accumulations out of the pipe. vBetweenthe'seraper v lcnives 64 and .the discv l0. a.. resilientA centering means-isprovided t position theswab 30rwithin ,the pipe; The centering meansv comprises a plurality of springsteel bands V6li-weldedztoplates -61 and 68 whichare .removablylnxed about-.fthe

rod 69 .whlenie inustreted `es being..integre1ywlm thespacer bar 65.-.; Ordinarily about 'three .bands .66 are satisfactory. The diameter. of .the centering means can beadjusted bythe relatlvefspacing of the plateslil,

\ of the pipe. @The functionvoiV the'. spring fsteel bands 66 lis to center ythe swabbingfelem'entffl whereby its entrance Vinto the `pipe' -is facilitated.

.The yswabbing. disc Ill is held 1inv place-'ibetween element 66 and retainingmeans .12bymeansl1of ysecure the assembly'about.

bolts 13. The retaining nuts il `are providedl to the rod69.. t.'

.Although we 'have' described-,certain em ments of our invention more or less inv detail, it

shouldbe understoodthat this is by way of illus- Y' vtratlononly-and not by wayof limitation.` It is ing .in the vmanner of the structures.y described contemplated that Various .equivalents functionherein can be vused without .departing from the spirit of our invention, `We come intend there .fore to be limited to the particular construction I' withdrawing the pipe from said swab at a relaof the elements except z Weam:

1. A pipe` swabbing 'es defined .by ,the claims.

stem, a swab stem flexibly linked 'tothe other end ofjsaid 'guide st em in-isubstantial `axial alignment guidestem for conveying the-.pipe sections longitudinally along said guide stem, swab means i'lxed `to the free end of Asaid `swab stem, a rst traction @means forv urging a conduit'A longitudinally over said swab stem, and a secondjtraction-mean's for tively high rate.

Apipe swabbingv apparatus comprising a primary'swab stem and a secondary swab stem'in substantial axial alignment, link-l mean'sfor ilexi- 1 bly coupling said swabstems, hook means onthe free end of,A said primary stem, an anchor bar adaptedto cooperate with said hook-to oppose y longitudinai movement oisaid-fstemsafpipe swab iixed tof the free endv of the' secondary stem, an

veye inthe secondary stem adjacent the said'link means, a secondary swab stem holderadapted vto cooperate 'with said eye .independently-.to oppose thelongitudinal movement ofv the secondary stem,

' -impelling means disposedbetween said secondary swabstemV holder and said pipe swab adapted 'to .engage...the.outer surfaceof' a pipe-.and thereby. .urge the pipelongitudinallyfontosaid pipe swab,

6224 about which is placed 4a .pluralityof sleeves and'68. soathat-a circle circumscribing thesteel bands in their .normal position vwould have a diameter slightly .greater-.than that y apparatus; comprising a guide stem, means for anchoringone end of said andava and a second impelling means adapted to engage the outer surface of said pipe and to accelerate the withdrawal of the pipe from the swab.

3. An apparatus for internally swabbing a conduit comprising in combination a floating swab stem adapted to be anchored at one end, movable means for anchoring the one end oi' said stem, swab means ilxed to the free end of saidstem and adapted to pass within the conduit in contact with the inner surface, roller means for supporting the conduit aligned with said swab stem and said swab means, traction means i'or threading the supported conduit longitudinally along said swab stem and onto said swab means, and a second traction means for independently drawing the conduit over the said swab means.

4. An apparatus for swabbing the interior an for cleaning the exterior of an elongated conduit, said apparatus comprising roller means for supporting the conduit in a substantially horizontal position, means for cleaning the exterior o! said conduit which means performs the added function of urging said conduit over said roller support means, a swab stem passing through said exterior cleaning means, and being anchored at one end,

and an internal swabbing means fixed to the free.

end of said swab stem, said swabbing means being adapted to engage the internal surface o f the conduit to be swabbed whereby the exterior cleaning means urges the conduit over the swabbing means and progressive increments of the conduit length are swabbed.

5. An apparatus for swabbing pipe comprising a swab stem, roller means for guiding a pipe section over said swab stem, swabbing means ilxed to one end of said swab stem, a first anchor means for resisting the tendency of the swab to travel with the pipe to ibe cleaned, said anchor means engaging the swab stem at a distance from the swab at least equivalent to the length of the conduit being swabbed, exterior traction means adapted for urging the pipe along the swab stem and over the swabbing means, substantially coaxial means extending from said swab stem for guiding separate sections of pipe onto the said stem, said guiding means comprising an extension of said stem and having an anchor engaging means for engaging said stem at a point remote from said swab means, roller means below said stem for supporting said pipe about said stem and swab, an impelling means for urging the pipe longitudinally over said swab stem and swab, and a second lmpelling means for independently drawing the trailing end of said pipe over said swab at a relatively higher rate than said leading end. v

9. An apparatus for internally swabbing and externally cleaning used pipe comprising an elongated swab stem, a swab means iixed to one end of said stem, a retractable means associated with the other end of .said stem for retaining said swab and swab stem in a relatively xed position, said swab stem extending through means for cleaning the exterior of a pipe, roller means below said stem for supporting said -pipe about said stemyatraction means juxtapositioned to said exterior means adapted to clean said pipe and to urge the pipe longitudinally over said swab stem and swab, and an independenttraction means for drawing the trailing end of said pipe over said swab at a relatively higher rate than said leading end.

10. A pipe swabbing apparatus comprising a primary swab stem and a secondary swab stem in substantially coaxialalignment, a coupling means for said substantially coaxially aligned stems, a pipe swab xed to the free end of the secondary stem, an anchor means adapted to engage the free end of said primary stem. a secondary stem holder adapted to engage said secondary swab stem, said anchor means and said secondary stem holder being adapted independently and separately to oppose longitudinal i movement ofthe coaxial stems, and impelling an elongated swab retaining means, a iirst restraining means for releasably anchoring an inmeans at one end, anda second anchor means for engaging said guide means to permit transfer of a pipe section from said guide means onto said swab stem.

6. In the method of salvaging pipe une sections..

a ing the pipe section from theswabbing zone 'at a higher rate than at which it entered the swabbing zone, said removal being effected by applying an independent traction force to the pipe.

7. The method of successively swabbing a plulrality of pipe sections which comprises introducing a pipe section into an internal swabbing zone at a given rate. eiecting the swabbing oi thev 65 Number trailing end of the pipe section at a higher rate than the leading end. and removing the swabbed material from the swabbing zone before the next succeeding section of pipe enters the swabbing zone.

8. An apparatus for internally swabbing pipe comprising an elongated swab stem, a swab means iixed to one end of said stem, a single retractable termediate portion 'of said retaining means tol restrain longitudinal movement thereof, a swab means fixed to one end of said retaining means, a second restraining means spaced longitudinally from said iirst anchor means for releasably anchoring said retaining means to restrain longitudinal movement thereof. said rst and second restraining means being spaced from each other a distance at least equal to the length of a conduit, and traction means adapted to urge a conduit o ver said elongated retaining means and subsequently over said swab.

ARTHUR M. HILL.

EDWARD J. MILLER.

EUGENE G. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following' references are of record in the ille oi' this patent: v

Umm s'rA'rEs PATENTS Name lDate 2,250,078 Kronquest July 22, 1941 2,152,036 Froh Mar. 28, 1939 728,287 Pehl May 19, 1903 41,012,049 Armstrong Dec. 19, 1911 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,402 Great Britain ..-1902 

